GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – The FLW Tour stop on Kentucky Lake ended today for 246 of the 286 pros and co-anglers who were gunning for the money ($100,000 to the pro champ and $20,000 to the co-angler) and the prestige of being a major tournament winner.
Everyone fishes on Day 1 and Day 2 but only the top 20 pros and co-anglers advance to Day 3.
Jim Moynagh leads the pros with a two-day total of 40-6, about three and one half pounds better than his closet competitor and more than nine pounds than 20th place Bryan Thrift, who edged Kentuckian Ramie Colson Jr., by ounce to advance to the semi-finals. After Saturday’s weigh-in the 10 pros with the best cumulative three-day weight will advance to Sunday’s finals.
The co-angler champ will be determined Saturday and with a seven pound lead it seems to be Casey Martin’s tournament to lose. Martin started the tournament with a 22-12 five fish catch – the best single day bag thus far. Anything can and sometimes does happen in fishing – especially when you’re fishing from the back of the boat – but anyone would like to be in Martin’s shoes.
The lakes (Kentucky and neighboring Barkley) are fishing well. Most of the pros fishing Friday seemed to be focusing on creek channels, where they were dragging jigs or plastics in hope of a big bite.
Some fish, however, are prowling the shallows. Finding them could be the key to a big payday.
“I caught them shallow and I had a big limit early,” said Dave Lefebre (pictured), whose 19-pound bass bag on Friday propelled him into ninth place.
“I’m catching a lot of 2-2 /12 pounders (deep),” said veteran pro Ron Shuffield, who is in fifth place at 35-9. “But the bigger fish are right on top.” Shuffield is concentrating his efforts on Lake Barkley.
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